> Title: Discussion on the Sashastra Seema Bal Bill, 2007 (Discussion concluded and Bill Passed). MR. SPEAKER: Now, the House will take up item no. 10, the Sashastra Seema Bal Bill, 2007.
Hon. Minister please.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL): Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to move* : "That the Bill to provide for the constitution and regulation of an armed force of the Union for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith, as passed by Rajya Sabha, be taken into consideration. "
The Special Services Bureau, now Sashastra Seema Bal, was raised in 1963 under the Cabinet Secretariat in the backdrop of Chinese aggression. The organization was initially functional in the regions of the then North-East Frontier, North Assam, North Bengal, hills of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu. Subsequently, its activities were extended to other areas in Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Mizoram, South Bengal, Nagaland and some areas of Jammu and Kashmir between 1965 and 1991.
The SSB was initially assigned "Stay Behind Role" wherein the non-uniformed Area Wing was primarily responsible for organizing, planning and execution of the assigned tasks and the uniformed wing was providing administrative and logistic support for the same.
On 15th January, 2001, the control of the SSB was transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs, in pursuance of the recommendations of the Group of Ministers on reforming the National Security System. The Ministry of Home Affairs entrusted to the SSB the role of guarding Indo-Nepal border, stretching over 1,751 kms.[MSOffice14]
* Moved with the recommendation of the President
On 12th March, 2004, the Ministry has further assigned the task of guarding Indo-Bhutan Border to the SSB, stretching over 699 kilometres. The SSB seeks to achieve these objectives by policing the border through armed combatized wing which has been re- structured into 41 Battalions.
The organizational structure, sphere of responsibilities and role of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has undergone a considerable change over a period of time. The Force has expanded both in size and responsibility. At present, the SSB is performing the Border Guarding duties on Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders through its Armed combatized wing with the following objectives:-
1. to promote a sense of security among the people living in the border areas; 2. to prevent trans-border crimes and unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India; and 3. to prevent smuggling and any other illegal activities.
The organizational structure and sphere of responsibility of the SSB have undergone a qualitative change since its inception in 1963. The role and duties entrusted to it as a Border Guarding Force (BGF) on Indo Nepal Border and Indo Bhutan Border have necessitated enactment of a comprehensive legislation to be called the Sashastra Seema Bal Act, on the lines of similar Acts for other Border guarding Forces especially the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBPF) Act which is the latest Act of a Border guarding Force on account of the following factors:-
1. to lend statutory backing to the Organization/Force and clothe it with a separate and independent identity at par with other Border Guarding Forces; 2. to dispense with the existing arrangement of extending selective applicability of the provisions of the CRPF Act 1949 to SSB personnel and to introduce uniformity by enacting a separate comprehensive legislation for the SSB; 3. to reinforce superintendence, guidance and control for effective operational efficiency and management of the Forces to achieve its organizational objectives as a border guarding force; and 4. to pave way for cohesive organizational structure as also to provide for a set of rules, methods and procedures in matters of discipline and performance.
The following are the salient features of the proposed legislation:-
1. Constitution of the Sashastra Seema Bal as an Armed Force of the Union with provisions for control, direction and service conditions of the Force personnel. 2. The details as regards the constitution of the Force and conditions of service of its members and the powers of the Director General, SSB, are incorporated in Chapter II (clauses 4 to 15). 3. Bringing under purview of the proposed Bill all persons appointed (whether on deputation or in any other manner) in the Force, namely:-
(i) Officers and subordinate officers; and
(ii) Under-Officers and other personnel so enrolled.
4. Constitution of the SSB Force Courts and provision for the powers, processes and procedures to be followed, and the penalties which can be imposed are contained in Chapters III and IV (Clauses 16 to 60) and Chapter VII to IX (Clauses 76 to 132) of the proposed legislation. Death penalty has been stipulated for certain grave categories of offences (Clauses 16 and 17).[a15]
Out of 11 Chapters in this Bill, Chapter 2 relates to the Constitution of the Force and conditions of service of the members of the Force. Chapters 3 and 4 deal with the Offences and Punishments. Chapter 5 deals with the Deductions from Pay and Allowances of the persons subject to the Act. Chapter 6 deals with the Arrest and Proceedings before trial of the persons subject to the Act. Chapters 7, 8 and 9 deal with the Force Courts, Procedure of Force Courts and Confirmations and Revision of Proceedings of Force Courts. Chapter 10 deals with Execution of Sentences, Pardons, Remissions etc. and Chapter 11 deals with the Powers and Duties, Protection for acts done by members of the Force.
The Sashastra Seema Bal in existence at the commencement of this Act, shall be deemed to be a Force constituted under this Act and the members of the Sashastra Seema Bal in existence at the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to have been appointed or as the case may be enrolled under this Act.
Moreover, anything done or any action taken before the commencement of this Act in relation to the constitution of Sashastra Seema Bal in relation to any person appointed or enrolled as the case may be shall be as valid and as effective in law as if such thing or action was done or taken under this Act. However, nothing shall render any person guilty of any offence in respect of anything done or omitted to be done before the commencement of this Act.
All expenses incurred concerning the administration of this Force would be met from the 'Consolidated Fund of India'. As the Force has already been constituted, no additional expenditure of non-recurring nature is likely to be involved when this Bill is enacted and brought into force.
The Sashastra Seema Bal Bill, 2007, has been passed by the Rajya Sabha on 28.11.2007.
With these words, Sir, I commend this Bill to this august House for consideration and approval.
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Tapir Gao to speak now.
SHRI TAPIR GAO (ARUNACHAL EAST): Hon.Speaker, Sir, I seek your permission to speak from here.
MR. SPEAKER: Do you not like your own seat?
SHRI TAPIR GAO : Sir, at the outset, I would like to say that the Sashastra Seema Ball Bal, 2007 is a very important Bill and I am here to support this Bill. But I have got a lot of views on this Bill. I would like to highlight them in this connection.
12.44 hrs.
(Shri Arjun Sethi in the Chair)
Sir, I salute the services of the SSB. As has rightly been pointed out by the hon. Home Minister at the outset, this organization, SSB − earlier, it was called as the Special Service Bureau which was formed in 1963 − was to inculcate a sense of security in the border areas and the citizens of the NEFA − the North-East Frontier Agency, which is today called Arunachal Pradesh after the 1962 aggression. Proudly, the people of Arunachal Pradesh can say that only because of the SSB's services, they are calling Jai Hind in all the remotest corners of Arunachal Pradesh. The SSB, in those days, was well organized and the initial role of the SSB in NEFA was very unique and its salient features were to provide humanitarian assistance, to maintain integrity and to provide security to the nation and the people.
I have gone through the Bill. Luckily, I am in the Standing Committee on Home Affairs. So, I have got access to this Bill. Hence, I would like to point out that the initial role of the SSB of 1963 was to inculcate a sense of security among the border people and subsequently it has been changed. But I have some fear. I would like to draw the attention of the hon. Minister and the Government of India and I would like to make a mention of the Padmanabiah Committee's recommendations of 1999 also. [R16]
I fear if I am not wrong, I would like to get the reply from the Home Minister regarding the salient features of the role of SSB today. In the initial stages, the role of SSB was to inculcate a sense of security and spirit of resistance in the border populace and perform "Stay Behind" role during enemy invasion or occupation, promoting national awareness and security consciousness among the people of the border areas, generating mass support in the border areas through National Integration Programme and welfare activities and countering enemy propaganda through psychological operations and awareness campaigns. Now, as the hon. Home Minister has rightly pointed out, I think now it is limited to only three points. They are to promote a sense of security among the people living in the border area; to prevent trans-border crimes and unauthorised entry into or exit from the territory of India; and to prevent smuggling and any other illegal activities on the border.
Today, I would proudly like to say and you can see it for yourself that today, in spite of China's repeated claims on the territory of Arunachal Pradesh, not a single Arunachali supports it. All this is because of the services rendered by SSB for four decades in Arunachal Pradesh. So, I salute the services, rendered by SSB. That is why, I highlighted the initial role of SSB in this country. They organise the villagers and make volunteers in the villages. By this, they generate Indianness among the people living in the border areas. We have seen it with our own eyes. Secondly, you cannot get the intelligence information from across the border with your uniform. The SSB were having some non-uniform workers also in those days. I hope the present day SSB is also having them for intelligence accumulation from across the border. So, it was so well organised. This force has got the strength to guard the international borders with Nepal and Bhutan. I think today the Bhutan border and the Nepal border are more sensitive than the Western border with Pakistan. All untoward activities, extremism, unlawful entries and anti-India propaganda are enrouted through the Nepal border. Therefore, the same spirit of SSB's working should be maintained in the future also.
Today, the SSB is guarding 1,700 kilometres of border with Nepal and 699 kilometres of border with Bhutan with high altitudes and all dangerous trends in the Himalayan range. Therefore, Sir, we need to maintain its initial role and it need to be strengthened by Padamanabaiah Committee's recommendations. [MSOffice17]
Sir, earlier the SSB's role was to stay behind, but now they have been asked to guard the border. So, same type of facilities should be extended to the SSB also which may require better coordination with intelligence agencies and the main intelligence agencies should look into this aspect.
I have gone through the Bill. The hon. Minister has very rightly brought this Bill now and we support this Bill and I hope this Bill comes under the Armed Forces Act which is good for the Armed Forces personnel who are serving in the SSB. In Clause 7 of the Bill, it is stated that their jurisdiction will not be limited to the country and every member of the force shall be liable to serve both inside the country as well as outside India. If the personnel of SSB are to be sent on UN services outside the country, then in addition to the nomenclature of SSB, like ITBP, CRPF etc., we may also give an English name for this force like Border Armed Force or Border Police Force so that it gets a broader sense when its personnel are sent outside India.
Sir, I have been appointed as one of the members for looking after the housing facilities of para-military forces.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please conclude.
SHRI TAPIR GAO : Sir, please give me a little more time.
सभापित महोदय: आपक पाट क तरफ स े चार पीकस ह, इसिलए थोड़ा शॉट कर
श ी तािपर गाव : िजतना हो सके गा, म शॉट करने क कोिशश क ं गा Sir, in para-military forces, housing facility has been given only to 25 per cent of their personnel, but in SSB it is less than one per cent. Therefore, the housing aspect of SSB personnel may kindly be looked into seriously because they have to work in the remote, Himalayan ranges and they will have to look after their family members like old aged father, mother etc. So, this is an area where the Government of India should pay attention.
Sir, para-military forces have been given flying facilities as it has been given to their DGs and also for evacuation of their soldiers at the time of any casualty. Now, SSB is looking after more than 45 Outposts at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet above the sea level in the Himalayan ranges in the Nepal border and Bhutan border. At the time of any casualty, they cannot carry out evacuation as they do not have flying facility now. Nepal border is the corridor of naxalities. Therefore, for quick deployment and better operation of this force, flying facility may be extended to SSB like it has been given to other para-military forces.
Then, with regard to enrolment to this force, as per the guidelines, 20 per cent of their recruitment should be from the guarding areas, another 20 per cent should be from militancy-affected areas and the remaining 60 per cent should be from the rest of the country.[R18]
[r19]The silent feature of the SSB was in regard to recruitment of non-citizens' enrolment also. This is a good service that they have rendered for the four decades in the nation building. Therefore, there may not be enrolment only but they should be allowed to recruit non-citizens services on the border so that they can get a lot of intelligence information from outside the territory also.
MR. CHAIRMAN : Please wind up now.
SHRI TAPIR GAO : Sir, for the first time in my life, if I handled arms and ammunition, it was through SSB only. I was one of the volunteers in those days and for the first time in my life I fired 303 in the SSB camp. Therefore, this organization has a vast role in social upliftment, for voluntary organizations in the border areas. The same type of initial stage should be there.
12.56 hrs.
(Mr. Deputy-Speaker in the Chair)
The recommendations of the Padmanabhaiya Committee be kindly implemented so that this organization can do lot of services in protecting the borders, protecting us from the enemies and doing social service for the people living in the border areas.
With these words, I support this Bill.
SHRI NIKHIL KUMAR (AURANGABAD, BIHAR): Sir, I rise to support the Sashastra Seema Bal Bill that has been introduced by the Government to give legal and statutory power to what was earlier the Special Services Bureau and which has now been renamed as the Sashastra Seema Bal.
As the hon. Home Minister has, in his presentation, mentioned the background of the SSB, a force that was established in 1963 to perform mainly the stay-behind role and now after 44 years, it has been found necessary to give it a different role.
I personally feel that this is something that was long awaited and should have been done much earlier. I say this because I am personally aware of the sensitivity of the Indo-Nepal Border. This border is nearly 1800 kms. long and it is open, it is porous. It is so following the provisions of the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty of 1950 in which there were provisions especially incorporated to promote Indo-Nepal Friendship and Amity and the preservation of centuries of our common culture.
But this sincere attempt at promoting friendship with Nepal has been misused by forces inimical to India's interest and I am aware also of the fact that it is extremely difficult to police this long border. As a result, it is possible to cross from Nepal into India and from India into Nepal without there being any serious checking or monitoring of such movements. Consequently, we have faced the brunt, as my dear colleague, Shri Tapir Gao, has mentioned, this has become even more sensitive, this border with Nepal than our western border. Any number of incidents which have been orchestrated by terrorists seated across our border have been so done by people who have entered India across this border. Therefore, it became extremely essential to organize some kind of effective policing of this border. The SSB, which was basically, as the hon. Home Minister has very rightly mentioned, in a somewhat dual role, it was stay- behind role in a non-uniform way and it was given logistical support, etc. by a uniformed force. Without meaning to cast aspersions on the force, it was doing very good wo[r20]rk.
13.00 hrs.
But the fact also is that, at a certain point of time, that Force was not very clear as to what it is supposed to do; whether it is supposed to perform uniform duties or it is supposed to perform non-uniformed duties. However, that is now past. A time had come when the SSB was not, if I may submit, quite clear as to what duties it is supposed to perform. At the same time, the Government was faced with the serious problem of policing the open and porous border with Nepal. Therefore, a very sensible decision was taken to deploy the SSB on this border. I am aware personally of this deployment. I met people from this Force who were deployed along this border. They lacked the infrastructure to police a border; they lacked the training; they lacked the arms; they lacked the necessary logistics to be able to perform their duties effectively. The most important thing was that they needed to change their mindset. Earlier, their mindset was quite different; and now their mindset is supposed to be akin to a border guarding force. Therefore, it became utterly essential to ensure that the border guarding duties to be performed by the SSB in its new avatar should be effective and should, therefore, have a legal cover. There is no other way to do it except to provide them with a proper enactment. It is for this that this new Bill has been introduced. Therefore, it has come not a day too late. I support it fully.
But, Sir, there are a couple of considerations which I would like to submit for the consideration of the hon. Home Minister and the Government. There will, now, be three border guarding Forces. There will be the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB); there will be the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP); and there will be the Border Security Force (BSF). I recall that some time back a Group of Ministers has been constituted to go into the question of internal security and external security. As you all know, internal security in India is, now, largely governed by or determined by happenings outside the border. Therefore, it became very necessary to see what kind of policing, what kind of border policing is being done in this country. So, the Group of Ministers mentioned in one of its recommendations that all these Forces should go back to their primary duties. If you are in the Border Security Force, you should go to the borders; if you are in the Central Reserve Police Force, you should manage internal security duties; if you are in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police − it is a border guarding Force − then you should go to the borders.
Now, this is a new border guarding Force. With this, there will be three new border guarding Forces. My sincere apprehension is that there is bound to be some amount of coordination problems amongst these three. This coordination has to be organised and overseen by the Government of India. My appeal to the Government of India is that it should be done. ...(Interruptions)
Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, please give me some little time. This is a very valuable peace of legislation. It is something very new. Therefore, there are certain considerations which I must place before this hon. House.
This coordination amongst the three border-guarding Forces is extremely important. There has to be a coordination mechanism so that there is no overlap of the duties. I say this overlap of duties especially with reference to the newly constituted SSB and the ITBP. There is a little grey area as to what will be the areas of responsibility of SSB vis-Ã -vis the ITBP. There are portions along the Indo-Tibet border and Indo-Nepal border, especially in Uttarakhand, where the question of actual delineation of areas of responsibility will need to be very carefully looked into. Once that is done, perhaps the Government may also take a decision as to whether this new Force should be so deployed as to not come into conflict with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. My sincere apprehension is that since this area is a little grey area, there is a little overlap, something should be done to see that this overlap is taken care of and there is no coordination problem.
The second thing is that − as my dear friend Shri Tapir Gao mentioned, and I commend him for this − there is need to look after the welfare of the SSB people. Today, they are lacking in their housing conditions, for instance. They are lacking in the fact that not enough has been done to look after their welfare[r21].
As it is, the attrition rate of our paramilitary forces is very high. I am not particularly clear about the statistics but I am more than reasonably certain that a number of personnel from the border guarding forces particularly the BSF who take premature retirement and retirement at a time when they are entitled to full attention is very large. Now, the Government has to pay a very special attention to this attrition rate, which is in the paramilitary forces. Much the same kind of danger faces the new force which we are creating it. It is a good thing that we are creating it but at the same time we need to look after the welfare of these people. If you do not look after the welfare of these people, then the attrition rate will go on mounting, and the very intention of our border guarding being effective will be belied. So, this is my submission to the Government to look into this.
The third thing is that the SSB is deployed particularly along the Indo-Nepal border, say in the border districts of Bihar, which are infested by a great deal of left wing extremism. Now, here it is mentioned that it will be essentially meant for border guarding and other duties. Now, these other duties will need to be spelt out with special reference to the problem of the left wing extremism in the border districts of Bihar along Nepal. There, Sir, a great deal of coordination will be needed between the SSB and the State police of Bihar for the simple reason that there is a great deal of criss-crossing of the left wing extremists between Nepal and India. As we are all aware, there is a very strong movement of the left wing extremists in Nepal and they have very close connections with people in Bihar especially in the northern districts of Bihar, which are on the border of Nepal.
If the SSB is to perform its duties in the manner that we expect it to, then it must be in a position to coordinate its functioning with the State police of Bihar to see that it keeps an eye on the left wing extremism that is burgeoning in the whole area, all around the Nepal border, and today, it is in a position to pose a much greater threat to the security of this country than even terrorism. This will need to be kept in mind, and let not the SSB later on say that this is not a part of its duties. This has to be specified, this has to be clarified and even now when this Bill is being passed, this will have to be brought to the notice of the Government for necessary and appropriate action.
Sir, my final point is that there is an expectation of all of us that the SSB will be deployed along the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders as per the Explanatory Note given to us by the Government along with this draft Bill. That is all very nice but at the same time it also mentions in this Bill that it will be used for border duties in the country. So, what happens if this border guarding force which is supposed to guard the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders is suddenly withdrawn from there and posted elsewhere? It is this which needs to be guarded against because I do think that once this force is aware of the topography which is supposed to police, which is supposed to guard and suddenly it is removed from there, then it will take a long time, Sir, to get to grips with the problems of the new areas.
Sir, these are the three points that I submit for the consideration of the Government. With these words, I also commend that this Bill has been brought not a day too late, I support it fully and it should be passed.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Before I would request the next hon. Member to speak, I have one announcement to make. Since this is the last item in Today's Revised List of Business, if the House agrees, we would not take lunch break today.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Yes, Sir, we all agree.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: All right. There will be no lunch-break today.
Secondly, I have a long list of hon. Members still to speak on this Bill. Therefore, I would request them to be very brief in this speeches.
Now, Shri Shailendra Kumar. Please give suggestions and be very brief in your speech.
श ी शलै े द कु मार (चायल) : माननीय उपा य महोदय, म आपका आभारी ह ं िक आपने मुझे सश त सीमा बल िवधेयक, 2007 पर बोलने का अवसर प दान िकया
महोदय, माननीय गहृ मंत ी जी यह जो िवधेयक लाए ह,ै उसका पुरजोर समथ न करने के िलए खड़ा ह आ ह ँ देश क सीमा क र ा म िजन जवान ने अपनी जान गंवाई, म उनक मिृत को नमन करते ह ए अपनी बात श ु करना चाहता ह ँ चीन के हमले के बाद यह बल बनाने क सोच इसिलए पदै ा ह ई वष 1963 म इस बल का नाम िवशषे सवे ा यरू ो रखा गया था वष 2006 म रा यसभा म इस िबल को प तुत िकया गया और आज भी ये जवान भतू ल स े लगभग 18,000 फु ट उंच े पहाड़ पर हमारी सीमा क सरु ा कर रहे ह इस बल का गठन नेपाल और भटू ान स े लगने वाली हमारी 1751 िकलोमीटर ल बी सीमा क सरु ा करने के िलए िकया गया है खासकर सीमा स े लगे ह ए हमारे गावं या ेत म रहने वाले लोग म कै स े सरु ा क भावना जागतृ हो, इसके िलए इस बल का बह त मह वपणू थान है आज जब इस िबल के बारे म इस सदन म चचा हो रही ह,ै म माननीय गहृ मंत ी जी स े यह मागं करना चाह ंगा िक सीमा पर हमारे जो नौजवान तनै ात ह गे, उ हे अ याधुिनक श त स े लसै िकया जाए य िक सीमा पर जो ये नौजवान लग गे वे देश क एकता और अख डता क र ा करने के िलए लग गे और आज जसै ी हालत म आतंकवाद और उग वाद स े लड़ना पड़ रहा ह,ै उसके िहसाब स े इ ह अ याधुिनक हिथयार स े लसै करना होगा प ायः यह देखा गया ह ै िक मानवािधकार के उ लघं न स े स बंिधत तमाम िशकायत आती ह, उन पर हम कड़ाई स े पालन करना होगा और ितपिू त के प म कु छ न कु छ करना होगा सीमा पर हमारे जो जवान तनै ात होते ह, अ सर यह सनु ने म आता ह ै िक उ ह ने आ मह या कर ली या अपनी ही सने ा से लड़कर मरे यह भी रपोट हमारे कई जवान स े िमली ह,ै इस प विृ को भी हम रोकना होगा ऐसी ि थित तभी पदै ा होती ह ै जब सीमा पर तनै ात जवान को प मोशन िमलने म कोई िद कत होती ह ै या वे घर जाने के िलए छु ी चाहते ह या खदु बीमार ह या घर पर कोई बीमार हो या िफर घर म कोई काय क म जसै े शादी- याह वगरै ह हो या अिधकारी ारा उनका उ पीड़न होता ह,ै तभी यह देखने म आता ह ै िक वे आ मह या करते ह या लड़ते ह इन िशकायत को भी हमे देखना होगा
म माननीय गहृ मंत ी जी स े गुजा रश क ं गा िक सीमा पर हमारे जो जवान तनै ात ह गे, चिंूक वे दरू सीमा पर, इंटी रयर ेत म तनै ात होते ह, उनके वेतन को भी उसी अनुपात म बढ़ाने क आव यकता ह ै और उनके ब च े जो उनके साथ न रहकर, उनके गावं म घर पर रहते ह, क िश ा और वा य क अ छी यव था होनी चािहए [R22]
सीमा पर वे तमाम मौसम चाहे जाड़ा हो, गम [R23] हो या बरसात हो, झेलते ह और देश क सीमा क र ा करते ह हम जाड़ म उनके िलए गम ओवरकोट क यव था करनी चािहए इसी तरह स े गिम य म जब पसीना आता ह ै तो उसस े कपड़ स े एक कमेिकल काि टक जसै ा पदाथ होता ह,ै उसक वजह स े उनक विद या ं फट जाती ह इसिलए वद पर िवशषे यान देना होगा इसी तरह बा रश म उनके िलए रे नकोट क समुिचत यव था होनी चािहए म गहृ मंत ी जी स े िनवेदन करना चाह ंगा िक िवशषे भत के कै प तहसील मु यालय और लाक मु यालय पर लगाए जाएं, तािक अ छे जवान भत हो सक
आज िव ए स िदवस है हमने कल ही समाचार पत म पढ़ा िक सीमा पर जो जवान तनै ात ह, वे पोिजिटव रोग स े ग त ह इस पर यान देने क ज रत ह ै िक ऐसी घटनाएं य घट रही ह और यह मज य फैला है
दसू री बात म यह कहना चाह ंगा िक हाल ही म हमने समाचार पत म खासकर उ र प देश क जो सीमा नेपाल स े लगी ह ई ह,ै वहा ं नौतनवा बॉड र ह,ै उसके बारे म पढ़ा उ र प देश का बलरामपुर और िस ाथ नगर जो बॉड र ए रया ह,ै वहा ं नेपाल म रह रहे मधेशी जो भारतीय मलू के िनवासी ह, करीब 40,000 क स ं या म हमारे देश म आ गए ह उ ह ने िस ाथ नगर म िजलािधकारी स े सम धरना एवं प दश न भी िकया ह ै िक हम शरणािथ य का दजा िदया जाए और यहा ं रहने क यव था क जाए यहा ं हमारे देश क आंत रक सरु ा पर सवाल खड़ा होता है हम कोिशश करनी चािहए िक जो यह उग वािदय , माओवािदय और न सलवािदय क स ं या बढ़ी ह,ै ऐसा तो नह िक मधेिशय के प म ये लोग हमारे देश म आ रहे ह और कह उग वाद को बढ़ावा तो नह दे रहे ह इस पर भी प िच ह लगा ह आ ह ै इसिलए इस पर िवशषे यान देने क ज रत ह ै और इनक पहचान करने क ज रत है
म एक बात और कहना चाह ंगा सने ा म पासी रे िजम ट बनाई जाए, य िक पासी कौम बह त ही बहादुर और वािभमानी होती है इसिलए सश त बल म यह रे िजम ट बनाई जाए ये लोग सीने पर गोली खाकर आएंगे, पीठ पर नह , इसिलए इनक भत करके इ ह सीमा पर तनै ात िकया जाए
इ ह श द के साथ म इस िवधेयक का समथ न करता ह ं और अपनी बात समा करता ह ं
उपा य महोदय: श ी गणेश प साद िसहं आप कृ पया पाचं िमनट म अपनी बात समा कर
श ी गणशे प साद िसहं (जहानाबाद): उपा य महोदय, सश त सीमा बल िवधेयक, 2007 माननीय गहृ मंत ी ारा सदन म चचा और पा रत करने के िलए पेश िकया गया है हम सबको और देश को गव ह ै िक भारत क सीमाओ ं पर हमारी थल, जल और वायु सने ा सरु ा के िलए मु तदै ह ै और दु मन स े लड़ने और यु करने म कई बार अपने काय कौशल का प रचय दे चकु है हम अपनी सने ाओ ं क बहादुरी पर फL◌ा है
हमारे देश क सीमाओ ं क सरु ा के िलए पहले स े कु छ सश त बल थे उसम बीएसएफ, सीआरपीएफ, आईटीबीपी आिद अनेक प कार क फोसज का गठन िकया गया था ये सब हमारी सीमाओ ं क र ा कर रहे ह अब इस स ब ध म यह सश त सीमा बल िवधेयक, 2007 लाया गया है यह इसिलए भी ज री ह ै िक आज िजस समय इन फोसज का गठन ह आ था, तब स े लेकर आज के मुकाबले ि थित बेकाब ू हो चकु ह,ै सम याएं बढ़ गई ह, हमारा बॉड र राज थान या पंजाब और अ य ेत का चाहे वह पािक तान, ित बत, चीन, नेपाल, भटू ान के साथ लगा हो या श ीलकं ा के साथ मामला हो, इन तमाम जगह पर घुसपठै बढ़ रही ह ै और इसस े देश म उग वाद को बढ़ावा िमल रहा है ये लोग हमारे देश म शािंत को भगं करना चाहते ह हम सनु ते ह िक काननू यव था रा य का िवषय ह,ै लेिकन देश क सरु ा के द क भी िज मेदारी है इसी उ े य स े इस बल का गठन िकया गया है
महोदय, इस िबल म काफ ल बी-चौड़ी करीब 156 धाराएं ह, िजसम इस े तयै ार िकया गया है इस िबल म फोस के व प के बारे म बताया गया है [R24]इनक सवे ा-शत के बारे म गठन िकया गया है इन धाराओ ं म अपराध के बारे म भी बताया गया है अ य फोस जो ह उनके बारे म पहले भी िशकायत आती रही ह जसै ा इसम बताया गया ह,ै म धारा को भी उ तृ करना चाहता था हमारी फोस म कह कोई शतु स े िमत ता करता हो, कह त करी करने म मदद करता हो या कह और िकसी के िलए, दु मन के साथ िमलकर गु चरी का काम करता हो यह भी उसम प ावधान िकया गया ह ै िक जो िबना कारण बताए, ल बी अविध तक छु ी पर चले जाएंगे, वे भी दंड के भागी ह गे इन सब दंड के िलए तीन तरह के यायालय के गठन का प ावधान िकया गया है उनके गठन म यायालय का जो व प होगा, उसम कहा गया ह ै िक जनरल एटोन जज क बहाली होगी, उप-एटोन जज क बहाली होगी और इनके ारा जो हमारे एटोन जज ह गे, जज यायालय होगा, उनके ारा जो पीिटशन कोट या समरी-कोट के भी िकसी पदािधकारी क भी िनयुि होगी इसम म एक सझु ाव माननीय मंत ी जी को देना चाहता ह ं िक यायालय और याय म पारदिश ता होनी चािहए अभी आर ी महािनदेशक र क के नह ह, आर ी महािनरी क र क के नह ह, उपमहािनरी क र क के नह ह इसम जो जज का र क होगा, जो वहा ं के अटान जज का र क होगा, वह सभी यायालय म िनधा रत होना चािहए और इसम उसका प ावधान करना चािहए
दसू री बात म कहना चाहता ह ं िक जो हमारा एवीड स-ए ट ह,ै सीआरपीसी ह,ै आईपीसी, इन सबक गाइड-लाइ स इंिडयन एवीड स ए ट म ह इंिडयन एवीड स ए ट के तहत जो अपराध करने वाले यि ह या िजन पर अपराध का आरोप लगता ह,ै ऐस े यि य को सा य प तुत करने, के स म यथ े अवसर देने का भी इसम प प ावधान होना चािहए जसै ा हमारे साथी ने और कु छ माननीय सद य ने भी कहा िक नेपाल स े लगता हमारा बाड र है इसिलए अब चाहे माओवादी नेपाल म , स ा म भागीदार हो गये ह , लेिकन आज वे िबहार म अशािंत फैला रहे ह, िबहार म प वेश कर लोग को भड़का रहे ह और यहा ं अपराध कर रहे ह उसी प कार भटू ान स,े असम स,े लकं ा स े ये लोग अपना काय कर रहे ह भारत क सीमा बड़ी ल बी-चौड़ी ह,ै इसिलए आज क प रि थितय को देखते ह ए इसक बह त आव यकता थी इसिलए मानननीय मंत ी जी ने इस िबल को लाकर बह त ही वागत-यो य काय िकया है अपने देश क सीमाओ ं क र ा करने के िलए, अपने देश क सीमाओ ं पर रहने वाले फौिजय का मनोबल बढ़ाने के िलए, उनम सरु ा क भावना पदै ा करने के िलए, इस िबल को लाकर उ ह ने बह त ही अ छा काय िकया है समय का अभाव ह ै इसिलए इ ह श द के साथ म अपनी बात समा करता ह ं
SHRI B. MAHTAB (CUTTACK): Thank you Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir.
This force has been in existence for the last 40 years. It has projected a benign face of the Government to the border populace of our country. This special service bureau, as has been said, was established in 1963 after the Indo-China war. The basic purpose of that force was to build morale and inculcate spirit of resistance in the border population against threats of subversion, infiltration and sabotage from across the border. These were the three major problems which were faced during that time.
Today we have Border Security Force, we have Indo-Tibetan Border Police and since 2004 this new name − Sashastra Seema Bal − has come into effect. [k25]These are the three border guarding Forces which we have. There are three problems that are to be tackled by this Force because it will be deployed in the open borders - Indo-Nepal border and Indo-Bhutan border and it covers about seven provinces of our country and around 3,000 to 4,000 kilometres of open border. So, as far as I understand, the problems can be confined to three. These are to tackle large-scale smuggling at Indo-Nepal border, to check criminals and the criminal activities which take place in the open borders and to tackle the Maoists' problem which is becoming a nuisance in our country. This Force is going to work on the Himalayan region which is considered to be one of the most troublesome terrains in the world. So, it is definitely a very difficulty task for the Force to work there as there are gorgeous rivers, difficult terrains and inclement weather. So, when we consider the strength of the Force, we have to consider the ravages of nature which are prevalent there.
As has also been mentioned by the previous speaker, there are 156 Sections in this Bill and it is very exhaustive. In the previous provisions which were there, other than guarding the border, the Intelligence Wing also was strengthened. I went through the Bill. So, I would like to be educated by the hon. Minister as to how you strengthen the Intelligence Wing of this force because for guarding the border by a Force, especially a paramilitary force, the Intelligence Wing needs to be strengthened. In this regard, the first speaker, Shri Tapir Gao had mentioned that it was there earlier and since 1963 till 2003, it was being maintained by the people and a number of people were engaged.
Another aspect is recruitment, as I understand. I went through the report. The attrition aspect was also mentioned by Shri Nikhil Kumar. I would say that there is a sanctioned strength of around 47,000 and odd for this force, but now with respect to both combatised and non-combatised personnel, who are recruited, there are still around 15,000 vacancies. That means around one third of the sanctioned posts are still lying vacant. I would like to understand, because this is the report which I went through, why there are so many vacancies. This is one aspect.
The second thing is the recruitment. As has been mentioned, the recruitment is done as follows − 20 per cent from local area, 20 per cent from militancy affected areas and 60 per cent from the rest of country. As far as I understand, there are certain specifications for certain States. Their height is measured, their weight is measured and things like that are there. There are large tracts which form Orissa, especially the tribal districts. Due to these specifications, though the local people of these districts want to join the Armed Forces and paramilitary forces, they cannot join it. Because their height is at par with Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh, they are unable to cope up. I am talking about Kalahandi district. The next to the border of Orissa is Andhra Pradesh where the height is a bit less. So, Orissa people are denied entry into the service. They are the people of the same tribe, who are there in Andhra Pradesh, get into the service. I think, the Minister should look into it. The specifications of height, weight and other various measurements should be looked into so that more people can get recruited to this Force.[s26]
[r27]
Another aspect that was discussed is about the term 'enemy'. It has been mentioned in Clause 2 (1) (a) (i) that their duty is "which is engaged in operations against any enemy, or". The 'enemy' is further explained in section (i), which states that : "(i) "enemy" includes all mutineers, armed rebels, armed rioters, pirates, terrorists and any person in arms against whom it is the duty of any person subject to this Act to take action;"
As we understand, this force is being deployed in the open borders. We have come across a number of instances of how terrorist activities and Maoist activities are taking place by taking the liberty of crossing the open border and coming to our country. Therefore, I do not know the reason why the word 'infiltration' not being included in this Bill. 'Infiltration' needs to be included in it, and the persons who illegally come into our country for a very different purpose of creating trouble in our country. We have come across instances of explosions that have occurred in Hyderabad, Ajmer, Malegaon, or even in Uttar Pradesh. These are instances where people from the neighbouring country have taken advantage of the open border; have come into our country; and have done this type of explosion. Therefore, infiltrators and illegal immigrants should also be treated as enemies. I think that we can control the problem of infiltration in our country in this manner.
I have nothing more to say. But at the end, I would only like to remind about the Padmanabhaiah Committee's Report. The Committee has given its recommendations, and one of the recommendations is that there is a need to motivate the forces that are deployed on the border. We would be happy if necessary steps are taken to motivate the forces that are deployed in these difficult terrains to protect our borders.
With these words, I support this Bill.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The next speaker is Shri C. K. Chandrappan. Please be very brief while making your speech.
SHRI C.K. CHANDRAPPAN (TRICHUR): Sir, I will be very brief. I support this Bill. Please do not take it otherwise, but I do not know why this Sanskritized-Hindi has been used in the name. The name could have at least been mentioned in brackets in English. I am saying this because I cannot understand the name Sashastra Seema Bal. It is not that I am against Hindi or anything.
The Bill envisages that the Special Services Bureau is now being provided with a Statute. It is good, but I would like to ask one thing from the hon. Minister. We have several Border Security Forces that are doing distinctly different jobs. Is it not advisable that we have a joint command, and all of these are kept as separate divisions under them? Everyone having an independent entity with its own command probably will add to our defence expenditure. I am saying this because you need top officials for all these arrangements at the top level. I would like the hon. Minister to enlighten us on this aspect, namely, whether this could be rationalized.
Secondly, Clause 13 of this Bill says that the men of this force are not supposed to join any organization, trade unions, etc.[r28] It is understandable that in a force like this such organisations may not be permitted. But then, who will take care of their welfare? I do not find any special arrangement for taking care of their welfare. Welfare means housing, travel, leave and other facilities. Sixty per cent of the Forces, if I understood correctly, will be recruited from all over the country. Suppose a man from Kerala has to travel all the distance over three days in train. If leave is sanctioned to him but no special arrangement for train reservation is made, that man will have to travel unreserved which might lead to a situation where he may get wild. There are cases in which they occupied others' seats and clashed with people. Things like that have happened. So, there should be a definite welfare programme. Officers should be assigned with statutory powers to ensure better housing, food, leave, travel and other facilities. I do not think this Bill provides such an arrangement.
I understand they have to deal with all kinds of enemies. But we should take note of the fact that in the recent period, especially in Kashmir and Punjab, our forces have been accused of killing people and terming those people as killed in action. There are Human Rights Commission reports about it. There were many complaints also. How will this problem be tackled? They should be given some protection. At the same time, it should be seen that they do not cross the limits beyond which they are not supposed to go. How that will be ensured, I would like to know.
These are some of the queries which I would like the hon. Minister to answer. We support the Bill.
SHRI ABDUL RASHID SHAHEEN (BARAMULLA): Sir, I rise to support this Bill. I will very briefly submit a few points in order to invite the attention of the hon. Minister towards them.
This Bill has ultimately come before the Parliament for becoming a law. There was a need for this Bill so that we have some legal command over the forces in order to put them in discipline. I can see that in the Sections of this Bill, there are disciplinary actions, special court, etc. That is a necessity of course but I would like to draw the attention of the hon. Minister to the fact that the people who are guarding our borders, laying down their lives to do a greater job, are sometimes in a difficult situation. On a tour of one of the Committees I was in Ladakh when some people represented to me that they did not have many facilities and that was why they were put in a difficult situation. Some of them even wanted to leave the forces. So, we must first take care of our forces. An unhappy force can never be loyal to the best extent, cannot be up to date. If the forces have personal problems, that will certainly reflect upon their actions.
Secondly, we need some sort of training for these forces as we have made a special force to look after the Nepal border. We have the problem of naxalite movement, Leftists, etc. There are probably special situations for which we need to train the personel with some knowledge input, where they must understand what they are going to tackle. Unfortunately, in spite of all the sacrifices made and the great service which the paramilitary forces have done in Kashmir and other places, there were some allegations and aberrations which unfortunately have led to a big upheaval in the people. Their achievements were shadowed by those smaller incidents which took place. I can understand, because of psychological pressures and other difficulties of the forces such things happen.[KMR29]
In case, we take care of them by giving them some knowledge and input or provide some sort of courses for them during the time so that we educate them about the specialities of the areas, where are placed, things can go better. I would request the Minister to kindly look into the problems of leave and other facilities to the Forces so that they keep themselves happy and do their duty well.
प ो. रासा िसहं रावत (अजमरे ): उपा य महोदय, म माननीय गहृ मंत ी जी ारा प तुत सश त सीमा बल िबल, 2006 का पुरजोर समथ न करता ह ं जसै ा िक हम सभी जानते ह िक पहले उ र िदशा स े हम िनि ंत थ े िक िहमालय जसै ा पव तराज हमारा प हरी है लेिकन 1962 म िह दी चीनी भाई-भाई कहने वाले मु क ने अपने ही दो त के ऊपर हमला कर िदया उसके बाद 1963 म इस बल का गठन िकया गया, पेशल सिव स यरू ो, नाम तो वही ह ै सीमा सश त बल और पेशल सिव स यरू ो, लेिकन इनके काम बढ़ गये म आपके मा यम स े माननीय मंत ी जी स े जानना चाह ंगा िक पहले यह कै िबनेट सिचवालय के अंतग त आता था, लेिकन अब गहृ मंत ालय के अंतग त आ गया है पहले इसका काम परू े पहाड़ी ेत म था, ज म ू स े लेकर िहमाचल, उ री आसाम, मिणपुर, ित पुरा आिद म पहले इसका गु सचू नाओ ं के आदान-प दान का काय था, यानी इसका गु चरी का काम था पहले यह बल यिू नफाम म नह रहता था, लेिकन अब यह यिू नफाम म रहने लग गया ह ै और इसका दायरा बढ़ गया है अब इसक टे िनंग बगरै ह क यव था करते ह ए आप इसका गठन करने जा रहे ह लेिकन म कहना चाहता ह ं िक कह ऐसा न हो िक एक काम अ छा करते ह ए हम दसू रा गु चरी का काम तथा सचू नाएं एकत करने का काम या अ या य ेत म या हो रहा ह,ै उसके बारे म जानकारी प ा करने के काम म कह िपछड़ न जाएं य िक बॉड र गािड ग फोस नेपाल और भटू ान इन दोन देश क सीमाओ ं तक सीिमत रहेगी और सीमा क र ा का मह वपणू दािय व इस सीमा सश त बल को प दान िकया गया है िनि त प स े यह अपनी सवे ाओ ं म खरा उतरे गा हम अपनी भारतीय सने ाओ ं एवं अपने अ स ै य बल के काय पर अ यिधक गव है हम बह त गौरव का अनुभव होता ह ै िक वे िवषम प रि थितय म भी, चाहे देश क सीमाओ ं क र ा हो, चाहे आंत रक और बा सरु ा का प हो, अपने प रवार आिद क िचतं ा न करते ह ए बह त ढ़ता के साथ शतु का मुकाबला करते ह
उपा य महोदय, म आपके मा यम स े कहना चाह ंगा िक चाहे सीआरपी हो, सीआईएसएफ हो, आईटीबीपी हो और चाहे सीमा सरु ा बल हो, इ ह िवशषे प कार क टे िनंग िदये जाने क आव यकता है इनके पास नवीनतम हिथयार ह टेिलक युिनके शन, सचं ार के साधन भी इनक टुकिड़य के पास ह मन े यह परू ा पढ़ा ह,ै हो सकता ह ै िक अ ानता के कारण मुझे नजर न आया हो िक इसका मु यालय कहा ं पर होगा, गु प हडै वाट स कहा ं ह गे आपने यह तो बता िदया िक 31 बटािलयन ह गी लेिकन जसै े आईटीबीपी का मु यालय वहा ं ह,ै टे िनंग स ै टर वहा ं है सीआरपीएफ का मु यालय वहा ं है इसके अलावा सारे देश के अंदर अलग-अलग गु प हडै वाट स ह ऐस े ही इसका नेपाल, भटू ान क बॉड र पर गािड ग फोस बनेगा, इसके मु यालय क लोके शन कहा ं पर होगी, इसके बारे म भी यिद कोई जानकारी दे सक तो बह त अ छा होगा
म यह भी कहना चाह ंगा िक एिफिशएंसी एंड िडसि लन जसै ा हमने वयं वीकार िकया ह ै िक िडसि लन ऑड र आने के िलए और उनक काय कु शलता बढ़ाने के िलए िवशषे प यास िकये जाय गे आजकल अखबार म बह त पढ़ने को िमलता ह ै िक जवान ने अपने अिधकारी को राइफल का िनशाना बना िदया कभी-कभी जवान आपस म लड़ पड़ते ह या जवान जब िसिवल लोग को स पक म आते ह, तब भी कु छ घटनाएं घिटत हो जाती ह ऐस े मामल म म समझता ह ं िक अिधका रयो को भी सवं ेदनशील होना चािहए जसै ा हमारे िमत ने कहा िक बीमारी के समय छु ी देनी चािहए म वयं ऐस े प रवार स े आता ह ं, मेरे िपता जी खदु फौज मे िसपाही थे मेरे ताऊ जी के दो लड़के अभी भी सीआरपीएफ म ह हम मालमू ह ै िक हमारे घर म शादी या गमी हो गई और एकदम स े तार िदया और जवान छु ी मागं ता ह ै और ऐस े समय म उस े छु ी नह देते ह[ b30] प रणाम व प उनके मन के अंदर दुभा वना पदै ा होती है आपने इसम बह त अ छा िकया ह ै िक ऐस े िववादा पद प सगं म फोस कोट , जनरल फोस कोट , पटै ी फोस कोट , समरी फोस कोट इ यािद िववाद क ि थित स े पहले फोस म ही िनबट ल और िफर उसके बाद कोट म जाने क नौबत आए ऐसी ि थित िकसी के िलए भी न आए हमारे जवान के साथ अिधका रय का तालमेल इतना अ छा हो, इतनी अ छी सिु वधाएं उ ह दी जाए, उनके ब च के िलए िश ा, आवास, क याणकारी गितिविधय का यिद यान रखा जाए तो वा तव म काय करता ह आ जवान, बहता ह आ पानी और चलता घोड़ा हमेशा एि टव रहता है म समझता ह ं िक आप इन सब बात का यान रखग े, इसम तिनक मात भी सदं ेह नह है
मा यवर, एक और बात म कहना चाह ंगा िक माओवाद और न सलवाद इन िवचारधाराओ ं के बारे म िक वहा ं कौन स े लोग ह, कै स े लोग िह दु तान म प वेश कर रहे ह, इन सबके बारे म भी हमारे जवान को बताया जाना चािहए य िक नेपाल क ि थित इन िदन िवषम है पहले वह हमारा िमत देश था वहा ं के नाग रक इधर आ जा सकते थ े और इधर के भी वहा ं जा सकते थ,े पासपोट क भी यादा आव यकता नह थी लेिकन अब पािक तान का या कह का भी आतंकवादी नेपाल म होकर िह दु तान म आ जाता है नकली नोट पािक तान के ारा बनाये ह ए नेपाल म पह ंचकर िह दु तान म आ जाते ह
भटू ान भी हमारा िमत देश ह,ै नेपाल और भटू ान म यिद माओवादी और न सलवादी गितिविधया ं नह ह तो ऐस े आतंकवादी त व िह दु तान क सीमा म प वेश नह कर पाएं इन सबके बारे म भी हमारे जवान को िवशषे प िश ण िदये जाने क आव यकता है
म ेशी लोग जो तराई ेत म रहने वाले ह वे अपने अिधकार क बात कर रहे ह कभी-कभी ऐसी प रि थितया ं पदै ा हो जाती ह य िक अभी तक भाईचारा था, ऐस े समय म उनको ठीक स े टकै ल करना चािहए तािक कोई नयी सम या पदै ा नह हो, इसके बारे म भी माननीय मंत ी जी िवशषे यान रखग े आपने बोलने के िलए मुझे समय िदया, इसके िलए म आपको ध यवाद देता ह ं
श ी दवे व त िसहं (राजनंदगावँ ) : उपा य महोदय, माननीय गहृ मंत ी जी ने एक बह त ही ऐितहािसक और मह वपणू िवधेयक सदन म प तुत िकया है म इसके समथ न म बोलने के िलए खड़ा ह आ ह ं हमारे देश क जो भौगोिलक सीमाएं ह, चाहे समुद ी सीमा क बात कर , चाहे राज थान के रे िग तान क बात कर , चाहे क मीर क घािटय क बात कर और चाहे हम पवू र क बात कर , यिद हम देख तो पाएंगे िक आज जो हमारी सने ाएं ह, सने ाओ ं के साथ-साथ सबस े मह वपणू अगर िकसी क िज मेदारी बन गई ह ै और सरु ा क ि स े अगर िकसी क िज मेदारी ह ै तो वह िज मेदारी हमारे सीमा सरु ा बल क है चाहे समुद ी सीमा म को ट गाड होते ह चाहे हमारे बीएसएफ जो राज थान और पािक तान क सीमाओ ं म काम कर रहे ह, िवशषे कर जो ज म-ू क मीर म काम कर रहे ह, चाहे हमारे सीमा सरु ा बल ह जो भारत-नेपाल और भारत-भटू ान क सीमा पर काम कर रहे ह, िनि त प स े चाहे बफ क बात हो चाहे रे िग तान क बात हो या समुद क बात हो, इन सभी मामल म हमारे अध सिैनक बल तथा सीमा सरु ा बल ने काफ मेहनत क है इनक भिूमका कह भी हम सने ा स े नीचे नह ला सकते
आज जो माननीय मंत ी जी ने सदन म िवधेयक प तुत िकया ह,ै इस सीमा सरु ा बल ए ट के मा यम स े न के वल सीमा सरु ा बल एक रा ीय स ं थान और रा ीय अध सिैनक बल के प म सािबत हो जाएगा बि क पहले इसक जो भी प ृ भिूम थी, जो यह पहले नेप य म रहकर काम करता था लेिकन अब एक वतंत व सवं धै ािनक प से उसको काय िमल जाएंगे और सीमा सरु ा बल के जो आंत रक काननू ह, िनयुि , बखा तगी, बहाली सवे ाएं, दंड, सवे ा शत , यायालय तथा अिधकार इ यािद बह त प प स े इस िवधेयक के मा यम स े वे प रभािषत हो जाएंगे और इसका अपना एक सवं धै ािनक व प प ा हो जाएगा
महोदय, म यहा ं बताना चाह ंगा िक पहले सीमा सरु ा बल िजस तरह स े बनाया गया था और सीआरपीएफ के काननू के तहत उसक काय प णाली चलती थी लेिकन िजस तरह से आईडीएफ और अ य सीमा पर जो काम करने वाले बल ह, आसि नक बल ह, उनके समक अब यह सीमा सरु ा बल हो जाएगा म आपके मा यम स े कु छ बात क ओर मंत ी जी का यान आकिष त करना चाह ंगा िक इसम जो स ै शन 21 और 74 ह,ै ये जो हमारे जवान होते ह, सीमा सरु ा बल और उनके सिैनक होते ह, उनक छु ी स े सबं ंिधत इसम प ावधान [r31]है
म िनवेदन करना चाह ंगा िक जसै ा कई माननीय सद य ने कहा ह ै और समाचार-पत म पढ़ने को िमलता ह ै िक छु ी के िलये कोई प प ावधान नह होने के कारण या उ चािधका रय के दबाव के कारण जो िनण य होते ह, कभी-कभी जवान आ मह या करने को मजबरू हो जाते ह ऐसी ि थित होने स े बह त ही मनोव ै ािनक प स े कमजोर ि थित का िनमा ण होता है मेरा आग ह ह ै िक िवधेयक म जवान क छु ी के प को प प स े प ावधान िकया जाना ज री है इसके अलावा िवधेयक म जवान के वेतन और वलै फे यर एि टिवटीज़ सबं ंधी बात का प प स े प ावधान नह िकया गया है मुझे आशा ह ै िक भिव य म सशं ोधन ारा इसम इस तरह का प ावधान कर गे जो जवान सीमा पर अ सिैनक बल के प म काम करते ह और मुठभेड़ म र ा करते ह ये शहीद हो जाते ह, अगर उनके प रवार के आिश त के िलये अनुक पा आधार पर िनयुि का प ावधान इस िवधेयक म िकया जाता तो यादा अ छा रहता इसस े सश त सने ा के जवान और अिधकारी ह, उनके अंदर मनोबल का सचं ार हो जाता
उपा य महोदय, िवधेयक के अ याय 11 के खडं 153 म शि य़ , कत य़ और सरं ण के बारे म कहा गया है चिंूक भारत-नेपाल और भारत-भटू ान सीमा पर सश त सने ा बल रहेगी लेिकन यहा ं सब स े बड़ी सम या यह ह ै िक नेपाल म माओवादी टेकओवर करते ह और यहा ं नीचे एक रैड कॉ रडोर बनाने क बात चल रही ह,ै हमारी सीमा पर अवधै प स े प वेश करते ह जब अवधै प स े प वेश करन वाल क या उनके द तावेज क िशना त करने क बात आती ह ै तो िबना रा य क थानीय पुिलस क जानकारी के गु चर यव था नह क जा सकती है यह भी प प स े नह िलखा िक उनके अिधकारी को एक पुिलस अिधकारी के प म अिधकार िमलने चािहये अगर उनका प िनयोजन िकया जाता तो िनि त प स े सश त सने ा बल के अिधकारी और स म प स े काम कर सकते थे
उपा य महोदय, यह एक ऐितहािसक िवधेयक ह,ै म इसका पुरजोर समथ न करता ह ं
SHRI K. FRANCIS GEORGE (IDUKKI): I will be very brief, Sir. The Special Services Bureau, which was formed during the time of Pandit ji, is being reorganized into this Sashastra Seema Bal very ably by the hon. Home Minister and the Ministry.
The basic duty of this Force is going to look after the border between India and Bhutan and India and Nepal. Indo-Nepal border has become very sensitive of late with problems in Nepal which are spilling over to our border States like Bihar and parts of Uttar Pradesh. We have a host of paramilitary forces; the CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, the National Security Guards, the Assam Rifles and the Rapid Action Force. To that set we are now forming this SSB. I would request the Home Minister to see that this is a very well modern trained Force, well equipped to perform its duty especially in these very sensitive border areas.
Today, a report has come that the Defence Minister is visiting Nathula, our border with China, amidst reports that there have been incursions from China into our territory. These people are going to be deployed in very sensitive areas. Naturally, there is going to be lot of tension amongst them. Almost all the Members who spoke before me mentioned about the various kinds of indiscipline that is prevalent in the Forces that are deployed in border areas. Naturally, because tension is bound to be there amongst our personnel however trained they are. So, a lot of caution, a lot of training is required while we raise Special Forces.
Recently there has been an incident in Kashmir area where one of the officers belonging to my constituency has been shot dead by his own men over a minor argument. All this points to lack of proper training in our Forces.[R32] Sir, it has been said that out of two lakh personnel in the BSF, in the last 30 months, 41,000 men have quit and from other para- military forces also, people are quitting. On the one side, when you hold recruitment rallies, for example, in a State like Kerala, police has to resort to lathi charge to control the mob of young men and aspirants who want to get into the forces. But on the other side, after getting into it, if they feel dissatisfied and if they feel uneasy about continuing in the forces, there is something wrong in our training or in our running of these forces.
So, I think the personnel have to feel at home because they are far away from their families. Naturally, they will be worried about their families. They will be having old parents. Their wives or children may be sick. They will be worried about the education of their children. If the officer community is not able to instil confidence and make them feel at home, naturally, there will be dissatisfaction and problems. Of late, the suicide rate has also been going up among the forces.
So, I would request the hon. Home Minister to raise it as a model force. Let us provide our men with the most modern facilities to communicate with their family members. Now we have all kinds of facilities. We have mobile services, visual communication facilities, etc. All these facilities have to be provided to them.
As part of the Standing Committee on Defence, I had gone to Nathula Pass, which is located at about 50,000 to 60,000 feet above sea level. One cannot even breathe properly there. When our men perform their duties under such hazardous and difficult conditions to protect our borders and our country, they should be provided with proper facilities. They should be taken proper care to see that it is a satisfied force. Then only they can serve and do their duties to our expectations.
There have been a lot of provisions but I do not want to go into all those details. The Ministry has prepared a very detailed and thorough Bill. I hope that this Force will fulfil its duties and it will be come up to the expectations of the nation.
DR. SEBASTIAN PAUL (ERNAKULAM): Sir, at the outset, I regret my inability to pronounce correctly the title of the Bill as well as the name of the Force. This Sashastra Seema Bal is intended to protect our borders but in Clause 4, it is seen that the Force can be given other duties also including perhaps foreign assignments. In that context, a more simple instead of this stuttering and tongue twisting nomenclature could have been given to this Force.
We have so many forces to guard our borders. I do not know the exact number but I wonder how coordination can be effected amongst these Forces. It would have been better if a comprehensive legislation has been brought for a common force or a joint command. Although, the primary duty of this force is to guard our borders, it will definitely come into contact with the civil society. Our experience in the North-East as well as in Kashmir and other States where our jawans are in contact with the civil society, is that there are always conflicts, turbulence and complaints. Even in the airports and other public places where these forces are guarding, our experience is not much satisfactory. So, training should be given to these jawans about the need for protecting the constitutional rights of the civil society. That is very important in this area because in the name of security and countering terrorism, more and more restrictions are being imposed and members of these forces should be properly trained and they should be given proper instructions for dealing with the civil society.[R33]
14.00 hrs.
I am not going into the other aspects of the Bill which is very comprehensive. One thing which is evident from one of the clauses of the Bill is that members of this Force would be prevented from joining any organisation or union. However, they are permitted to associate themselves with any society that is purely social, recreational or religious in nature. There is bound to be difficulty in interpreting this clause because every organisation has a political leaning, for example, the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh which claims to be a social organisation. It is a very dangerous provision and therefore, it needs a very specific definition and interpretation. With these words I support the Bill.
SHRI BIKRAM KESHARI DEO (KALAHANDI): Sir, I rise to support this Bill. It is a very good piece of legislation. The Bill seeks to transform a special Service Bureau into an active armed unit or armed force in order to secure our borders more effectively. Presently our borders are quite volatile. We do not have very friendly relations with our neighbours on either side, be it the East or the West. It has been reported in today's newspaper that the Chinese have blown up two bunkers in the Indian territory. They came within the territory of Arunachal Pradesh and had blown up two of their bunkers. So, under such circumstances we cannot call our borders as fully secure and safe. Keeping in view the perspective the hon. Minister has done the right thing by bringing forward this Bill on the same lines as that of the ITBP. I think, the provisions, as contained in this Bill, will prove to be effective in controlling our borders.
Sir, I would like to ask two specific questions to the hon. Minister. This organization has so far been considered as a second line of defence to the Armed Forces. They were mainly engaged in providing intelligence service to the Armed Forces and to the Government of India. Now, it has come under the Ministry of Home. Now, after this Bill is passed, is there enough infrastructure for the welfare of those people who are going to be converted into 41 battalions in seven coys. I would like to know from the hon. Minister if he could assure these people -- who work under adverse conditions, like the people working in the Siachin glaciers, and suffer from mental depression resulting even in suicides − about the proper infrastructure which could ensure for them a good mental health. Proper provisions should be made for education of their children, adequate staff quarters and proper medical facilities and medical facilities.
Sir, it has been mentioned here that the non-uniform civil component of the Force will continue to be dealt with under CCS and CCA rules of 1965 and other Central Civil rules will be completely phased out. I do not know why this is proposed to be phased out. In any kingdom, in any empire, in any sovereign country or State, there should be a strong spying network. Proper intelligence service is necessary because so many terrorist related incidents are taking place in this country because of intelligence failure. Again, narcotics smuggling is going on through our Western Borders. [R34]
It is going on through the Indo-Nepal border, through the Burma border and through the Myanmar border. So, this Intelligence Service is very vital for any police force or any armed force to work properly and strike at the nerve centre to stop the crime. I would like to quote Kautilya's Artha Shastra. He has advised Chandragupta that he must increase his spy system. And in all the great empires, right from centuries immemorial, existed a good spy system. It may be in the Mughal Empire or the Maurya Empire or the Gupta Empire or afterwards also. But I do not know why the spy system among our forces is being withdrawn. They play a vital link to information on crime along the borders.
SHRI VIJAY BAHUGUNA (TEHRI GARHWAL): Sir, I stand to support the Bill which constitutes and regulates an Armed Force for providing security on our borders.
On the question of clause 4 of the Bill with regard to its constitution, I would like to make an appeal to the hon. Home Minister and also to the hon. Speaker. After the 1962 War, guerilla warfare training was given to the youths of the border States. It was given in the hilly region of Uttar Pradesh which is now called as Uttarakhand. Now, several youths have been given training in guerilla warfare. Some of these youths have filed writ petition in the Guwahati High Court. The High Court directed their absorption in the SSB services.
With regard to the men and women who are from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, they have been agitating since long that they should be absorbed or they should be given some benefit.
Now, I appeal to the hon. Home Minister that in constituting this force under clause 4, preference can be given to these men and women who have undergone the guerilla armed training in Uttarakhand. It is a border State to Nepal and the growing Maoism is a threat to our country. These youths who have undergone the guerilla warfare training for years together and have become over-aged may be given some preference in absorption. This Service will have an Intelligence Wing and a Civilian Wing. So, those armed trained men and women who have now become over-aged could be given civilian nature of work or they could be put under the Intelligence network by which we would be doing justice to such patriotic people of hilly areas which are border States, as they have undergone training.
So, my appeal to the hon. Home Minister is this. These people have got their records.. This was continued right upto 2003 when the NDA Government abolished it. If these things are kept in mind and if their interests are protected, the people of Uttarakhand would be thankful to the present Government.
DR. H.T. SANGLIANA (BANGALORE NORTH): Sir, I rise to strongly support the Bill and also thank the hon. Home Minister on behalf of myself and all the SSB officers who have served in this organization in the past for the reason, especially, that the SSB was threatened to be disbanded on many occasions in 1990s. Having served, in fact, in this organization for ten long years, I am perhaps the most eligible Member today to speak on this subject.
First of all, my recommendation would be in regard to deployment. Instead of restricting the SSB to Nepal and Bhutan borders alone, place of deployment should be interchangeable with ITBP and BSF. Keeping one unit in a particular place for a long time can breed undesirable things like over familiarity with the local people, connivance with agents of our adversaries, smugglers, etc. as seen in the past. Therefore, deployment aspect should be reconsidered and made interchangeable with the other two organizations. Regarding recruitment, as other speakers have said, we have so many volunteers, boys and girls who were trained in guerilla warfare and other social [MSOffice35]activities, who are not in SSB now. Many of them have been waiting for an opportunity to join the organisation which they could not do for various reasons. So, in the first wave of recruitment, my suggestion is to, look for children of ex-SSB or ex-Village Voluntary Force personnel in all the States, like Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, North-Eastern States, where SSB had been stationed, so that their life long aspirations can be fulfilled.
Regarding the role, I would further recommend that it should have intelligence component as was before. I remember having been recognised as one of the most well performed Divisional Officers of my time. I was DO in-charge of Manipur and Nagaland. A lot of actionable intelligence reports were fed to the SSB Headquarters. This suggestion may please be approved. The details of how to have intelligence component may, however, be carefully worked out.
We should also continue to have civic action rule like medical civic action, funding of construction of village dormitories or community halls or bachelors homes or some such socially useful infrastrucutres. That would be a good way of making friends in the border areas as it is necessary to integrate the border people into the mainstream as it promote national integration on a firm footing.
As regards effectiveness of the force, what we need is proper fencing on the borders. The Government, in their wisdom, had already passed a Bill for fencing our international borders. But till today, implementation is wanting. In places like Mizoram- Burma borders, not even one foot fencing or planting of a single pole has been done because of absence of motorable roads along the borders.
My recommendation to the Government is that we should declare upto half a kilometre width along the international borders as border reserve. If we have such border reserve, automatically, the command and control of the international border reserve areas will be with the Central Government and putting up of Battalion Headquarters and construction of border roads for patrolling, and maintenance of border fencing, etc. will become very easy. So, declaration of border line reserve all along the international border in the country is one recommendation which I want to put across.
As regards the name, I do agree that we should have a simple name which would be easily pronounceable to the people even as and when we deploy the force abroad.
My last point is about SSB land. We have acquired or purchased lands from the State Governments for establishing SSB battallion headquarters in the past. Some State Governments are wanting to take the lands back for development of their areas. For example, in Mizoram, the SSB has taken land at Aizawl and Kolosib. The Deputy Commissioner of Kolosib district has been in correspondence with the SSB Directorate for the return of the land for construction of some Government buildings and the matter is still pending. I suggest that the SSB now may settle such matters with State Governments as early as possible.
SHRI S.K. KHARVENTHAN (PALANI): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity.
Sir, I rise to support the Sashastra Seema Bal Bill. I am also appreciative of our hon. Minister of Home Affairs for presenting this Bill. Actually, this Bill is framed for the constitution of Force and conditions of service of the members in the Force.
Sir, this Bill elaborately discusses about the appointment, tenure of service and also offences under Chapter III. The offences are discussed under Chapter III in an elaborate manner and certainly this proposal will streamline the force and will also raise the morality of our people serving in the force.
Sir, in this Bill, there were separate provisions under clauses 14 and 15 about redressing the grievances. Section 14(1) deals with the grievances of persons other than officers. The persons other than officers working in the service can get their grievances redressed by lodging the complaint against the senior officers. In most of the cases, we have seen the persons other than officers are being ill-treated by the immediate senior officers. This proposal will certainly protect them.
Sir, under clause 15, there is a separate provision for redressal of the grievances of the officers.
Sir, I would also like to mention that in the Army or in the Air Force, young people are serving in Bangladesh border or in Pakistan border. They are not being given any leave for two years or three years and they are not able to meet their family members.
Sir, today is the International HIV/AIDS protection day. There is a recent report in which it is mentioned that some of the Army men are also affected by this disease and they are tested as positive. The reason for this is that they are not allowed to go to their homes and meet the family members for three years or so. There must be certain provisions for providing holidays at least 15 days, one month or once in a year. This is one of the important suggestions I would like to place before this august House.
Sir, the young men who are joining the Forces are not being provided adequate and proper salary. Nowadays, youngsters are getting very high salary in different fields. So, the Government has to come forward and provide good salaries and all other benefits to them. Then only the young people will come to serve in these Forces.
Sir, these are my few suggestions. I welcome the Bill.
श ी न द कु मार साय (सरगजु ा) : महोदय, आपने मुझे बोलने का अवसर िदया, म इसके िलए आपको ध यवाद देता ह ं सश त सीमा बल िवधेयक, 2007 पर म अपने िवचार रखना चाहता ह ं हमारे िमत ने इस बारे म बह त सारे िबंदुओ ं को अपने अिभभाषण म प िकया है म के वल दो-तीन बात क ओर माननीय मंत ी जी का यान आकिष त करना चाहता ह ं
जब आप सश त सीमा बल का गठन कर रहे ह या इस तरह के िकसी भी बल का गठन होता ह,ै तो उसका वहा ं परू े रा प रवार स े अलग एक नया प रवार बसता है मुझे लगता ह ै िक आजादी के बाद चाहे पुिलस हो या हमारी सश त सीमा बल हो, उनका प िश ण िजस प कार का होना चािहए, उसम कमी िदखायी पड़ती है यह बात अनुभव भी क जा रही है हमारे िमत ने भी प िश ण के बारे म कहा है म आपस े िनवेदन करना चाहता ह ं िक वहा ं जो प िश ण हो, उसम एक प रवार का भाव हो, जो अिधकारी बनाय , वे अ यंत सवं ेदनशील, यायिप य और कु शल य होने चािहए रा और प रवार को चलाने के िलए जो प मुख होता ह,ै वह िजतना कु शल होगा, उतना ही उस सगं ठन को मजबतू और गितशील बना सकता है पहला भाव यह ह ै िक सीमा पर और जसै े आज िकनारे क ि थितया ं िबगड़ रही ह, उसम यादा ज री हो गया ह ै िक रा के प ित पणू समिप त होकर ये जवान वहा ं काम कर सक यह ि थित कब उ प न होगी? सबस े पहले शारी रक प स े उनको जो सिु वधाय आप देने जा रहे ह, उसक यव था परू ी होनी चािहए वे मन स े िकसी प कार स े दुखी न हो हमारे िमत ने बह त सारी बात रखी ह एक तो वह नये प रवार म वहा ं रह रहा है वहा ं आपस म सब का सम वय हो अलग- अलग जो सीमा के सरु ा बल ह, उनके सम वय क बात भी कही गयी है एक भाव उनके मन म ह ै िक वे अपने प रवार स े दरू ह और बड़े प रवार स े जाकर एक छोटे प रवार म ह, जो सीमा पर बना है उसके िलए ऐसा प िश ण होना चािहए [p36]
म समझता ह ं िक यिद उसके मन म कत य बोध क उ फु ल अनुभिूत हो रही ह ै तो वह उस े परू ी ताकत और प ाण लगाकर करे गा आज आधुिनक श त आ गए ह, घुसपिै ठय के नए-नए तरीके आ गए ह िजस तरह अनेक प कार के प लोभन देकर जवान को भरमाने क कोिशश क जा रही ह,ै उस समय उस े रा भाव ही अिडग रखता है जब तक उसके मन म यह भाव रहेगा िक यह प ृ वी माता हमारा िवशाल प रवार ह,ै इसक र ा के िलए मुझे बह त बड़ी िज मेदारी स पी गई ह,ै वह िकसी भी ि थित म िकसी प लोभन म िडग नह सकता इसिलए आपको सीमा पर काम करने वाले लोग के मन म यह भाव भरना पड़ेगा उनके िलए ऐस े प िश ण ह , वहा ं तनै ात अिधकारी इतने कु शल ह िक अपने प मुख को देखते ही खड़े हो जाएं उनके मन म यह भाव होना चािहए िक हमारा प मुख यहा ं आया ह ै और वह सबके िहत क देखभाल कर रहा है उनका प मुख बह त यायिप य होना चािहए यिद कोई गड़बड़ ह ै या कोई याय करना ह,ै िकसी गलती पर दंिडत करना ह,ै यिद उसम उसक यायिप यता रहेगी, तो िनि त प स े जवान अपने कत य पर डटा रहेगा आपको उनके मन म यह भाव भरना ह ै िक यिद सारा रा सखु -चनै क न द सो रहा ह,ै सारे रा म अमन का भाव ह,ै तो वह आपके कारण है इसिलए आपने बह त मह वपणू िनण य िलया है इसम काननू ी प ावधान बह त ह यावहा रक और अ तम न को छू ने वाला प ावधान, जो प िश ण स े आने वाला ह,ै यिद आप उसे परू ा कर ल गे तो म समझता ह ं िक िजस उ े य स े रा क र ा के िलए सश त सीमा बल का गठन करने जा रहे ह, वह परू ा होगा म समझता ह ं िक आप इन सारे भाव को सामने रखकर इस े परू ा कर इ ह भावनाओ ं के साथ म इसका समथ न करता ह ं
श ी राम कृ पाल यादव (पटना) : महोदय, म सश त सीमा बल िवधेयक, 2007 के समथ न म बोलने के िलए खड़ा ह आ ह ं सन् 1962 म चीन के साथ हमारी लड़ाई ह ई थी और उसके बाद 1963 म एसएसबी का गठन ह आ था इसके खास तौर स े दो-तीन मानक रहे ह - सीमावत ेत म रहकर लोग के बीच सरु ा क भावना बढ़ाना, अवधै प वेश, त करी, अवधै काय कलाप को रोकना और तीसरी बड़ी बात रही ह ै इंटलै ीजस सवे ा देना इ ह यह तीन मह वपणू काय स पे गए ह म समझता ह ं िक एसएसबी अभी भारत-नेपाल सीमा पर लगभग बीस जले म फैली 1,751 िकलोमीटर और भारत-भटू ान सीमा के साथ लगभग 120 िकलोमीटर अंतरा ीय सीमा के साथ लगे सात सीमावत रा य म काय कर रही है एसएसबी के तीन फं िटयर ह और आठ ेत ीय मु यालय ह माननीय मंत ी जी ने इस सगं ठन क सीमा चौकसी बल के प म जो भिूमका तयै ार क ह,ै उस े मॉडना इज और ससु ि जत करने के िलए लगभग 444.33 करोड़ पये क लागत स े आधुिनक हिथयार और उपकरण उपल ध करवाए गए ह यह सब काय िकए गए ह जो िनि त तौर पर सराहनीय ह म समझता ह ं िक उनके ऊपर जो दािय व ह, म ऐसा नह कहता िक वे उन दािय व का िनव हन नह कर रहे ह, लेिकन िनि त तौर पर यह बात सही ह ै िक दोन सीमावत इलाक म कह न कह कमी ह ै िजसक वजह स े त कर क गितिविध रहती है [N37] अवधै प स े हिथयार रखने या ड स वगरै ह लाने म उनक गितिविध रहती है हमारे देश म माओवािदय के आने का भी जोर चल रहा है खासतौर स े म दो ेत क चचा करना चाहता ह ं जहा ं एसएसबी लगा ह आ है पहला भटू ान और दसू रा िबहार का वह ेत जो नेपाल स े सटा ह आ है इन दोन जगह पर माओवािदय गितिविधया ं बड़े पमै ाने पर चाल ू ह मुझे ऐसा लगता ह ै िक ये जवान अपने दािय व का कह न कह परू े तौर पर िनव हन नह कर रहे िजसक वजह स े इस तरह क गितिविधया ं हमारे देश म हो रही ह म आपको बताना चाहता ह ं िक एसएसबी िनि त तौर पर बह त यजू फु ल और िडिस ले ड सश त बल है लेिकन इनक जो गितिविधया ं ह, खास तौर पर िबहार स े सटे ह ए इलाके म इनक जो गितिविधया ं ह, म यहा ं पर उसक चचा करना चाहता ह ं तािक माननीय मंत ी जी उस पर थोड़ा गौर कर
महोदय, इस सश त बल का काम बह त सीिमत ह,ै लेिकन ये लोग अपने काय स े मतलब नह रखते, जसै ी मन े चचा क है ये लोग अपने काय स े बाहर जाकर आम िसिविलयन क िजदं गी म भी प वेश कर जाते ह उनके घरे ल ू पा रवा रक झगड़ म ह त ेप करते ह यानी वे अपने पद का दु पयोग कर रहे ह यह िब कु ल िनद िशत ह ै िक ये लोग िसिविलयन ेत म 10 िकलोमीटर स े यादा अंदर नह जा सकते लेिकन ये लोग 20 िकलोमीटर तक अंदर चले जाते ह और वहा ं लोग के घरे ल ू झगड़ म ह त ेप करके उनको डराने धमकाने का काम करते ह उनस े पसै ा वसलू ने का भी काम करते ह म सब पर चाज नह लगाता लेिकन कु छ िछटपुट घटनाएं हो रही ह िजसक तरफ म माननीय मंत ी जी का यान आकिष त करना चाहता ह ं
महोदय, म बताना चाहता ह ं िक मधुबनी का इलाका नेपाल स े सटा ह आ है आप कह , तो हम गावं क चचा भी कर देना चाहते ह वहा ं एसएसबी लोग के घरे ल ू पा रवा रक झगड़ म ह त ेप करते ह वे अवधै हिथयार रखने के मामले म लोग को फं साते ह और उनस े 10 या 20 हजार पये लेकर उनको हरास करने का काम करते ह हमारा कहना ह ै िक उनको अपने काय बोध का ान देने के िलए टे िनंग देने क आव यकता है उन पर कड़ाई करने क आव यकता है उनस े कहा जाये िक उनक जो िज मेदारी ह,ै वे उसका िनव हन कर , न िक आप अपने पद, बल, आ स का दु पयोग करके आम लोग के जन-जीवन को अ त- य त करने का काम कर माननीय मंत ी जी का कई बार इस बारे म यान भी आकिष त कराया गया ह ै िक जो माओवादी नेपाल म गितिविधया ं कर रहे ह, वही हमारे देश म भी आकर उथल-पुथल करने का काम कर रहे ह
महोदय, आपको मालमू होगा िक सीतामढ़ी इलाके म कु छ लोग ने सासं द श ी सीता राम बाब ू के घर पर हमला िकया था वे सब नेपाल स े आये ह ए माओवादी लोग थे हमारे देश म कई ऐसी जगह ह, िबहार स े सटा ह आ इलाका ह ै जहा ं बड़े पमै ाने पर माओवादी आकर अि थरता पदै ा करने का काम कर रहे ह कई माननीय सद य ने नो स, ड स क त करी करने क चचा क है म सोचता ह ं िक इसको और शडै य़लू करने क ज रत है उनको उनके काय के प ित बोध कराने क ज रत है उन पर जो िवशषे दािय व ह,ै उ ह उस पर अनुशािसत रहकर िनवा ह करने का काम करना चािहए अगर इंटेलीजस ठीक तरीके स े काम करे गा, तो कोई परे शानी नह होगी वह आम तौर पर सरकार को इ फाम करता ह ै तािक चौकसी बरती जा सके माओवादी गितिविधय म लगे ह ए जो लोग ह, उन पर हम रोक लगाने का काम करना चािहए म समझता ह ं िक माननीय मंत ी जी िनि त तौर पर ऐसी चीज पर िवचार कर गे इस िबल म धारा 156 है यह िबल बह त अ छा ह ै इसिलए हम इसका वागत करते ह लेिकन सभी लोग को अहसास ह ै िक एसएसबी अपने दािय व को िनवा ह पणू तौर पर नह करते भटू ान और नेपाल क सीमा स े लगे ह ए जो इलाके ह, वहा ं एसएसबी अपने दािय व का िनव हन ठीक स े नह कर रहे ह िजसक वजह स े हमारे देश म माओवादी लोग क स ं या बढ़ रही ह,ै त करी क स ं या बढ़ रही है इसस े हमारा देश अि थर हो रहा है
महोदय, म यादा व न लेते ह ए माननीय मंत ी जी स े िनवेदन क ं गा िक वे इस पर यान द जो आपरािधक प विृ के लोग सीमावत ेत म लगे ह ए ह, उन पर आप िनि त प स े गौर करने का काम कर गे और ऐसी यव था कर गे िजसस े उसक प ित ा बढ़ सके और वे अपने दािय व का ठीक ढंग स े िनव हन कर सक
म पुनः इस िबल का समथ न करते ह ए अपनी बात समा करता ह ं
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, first of all, I would like to pay homage to the memory of all the members of the para-military forces who have laid down their lives in guarding our borders.
I am indeed very happy that Members belonging to all parties from all sides of this House have supported this Bill. Almost all Members have praised the work done by the members of the para-military forces and also SSB. Members have given very good suggestions and most of the suggestions given by them relate to the welfare of the members of the para-military forces. I would like to say that we would keep these suggestions in mind and act on them. We have already taken certain steps to help them, more steps are required to be taken and we would definitely take more steps to make their lives more comfortable and more livable in the difficult areas in which they live.
Many of the Members have said that these members are living at very high altitude. Some of them are living at an altitude of 18,000 feet. Living at an altitude of 18,000 feet is a very difficult task and yet they are living there and discharging their duties. One or two Members have said that when they want to go back to their places from the border areas, they have to travel by train and it becomes very difficult for them to travel long distances by train and then make use of the leave that is given to them in a proper manner. We have already looked into this issue and we would like to see that the facilities which are given to the members of the Defence Forces living in the border areas are given to them also. I would not like to go into all the details of the steps which have been taken and it is not necessary for me to comment on all the suggestions which have been given by the hon. Members asking the Government to take welfare measures. I would only like to say that all the suggestions given by the hon. Members are valid and we would definitely act on them.
There were one or two other points which were made. One of the questions asked was why there are some vacancies. It is a very valid question and I would like to say that we would like to fill up all the vacancies which are there in SSB. I am told that as far as Constables are concerned, the vacancies of Constables are going to be filled up fully within 4-5 months. Then, with regard to the posts of officers, there is some difficulty because of the difficult nature of duties that they have to discharge. Many people are not joining these forces and that is why it is becoming a little difficult to fill up the posts of Inspectors and other officers at higher level, but we will take steps and see that these vacancies are filled up. This is a very valid point.[R38]
[r39]One of the points raised related to the joint command. It was suggested, why should we not have a joint command. It has to be realised that BSF is standing on the borders which are between Pakistan and India and between Bangladesh and India. The SSB is on the borders with Nepal and Bhutan. The ITBP is the force which is guarding the border between Tibet and India. So, the countries are different, the situations prevailing on both sides of the borders at different places are different and these forces have come into existence at different times. Different kinds of trainings are given to them. That is why, it does not become possible to bring them together and put under one control.
We have our Defence Forces. Army is there, but Army is also divided into different commands, Eastern Command, Western Command, Central Command, Southern Command, Northern Command and things like that. Under these commands, the forces are working. Now, here we already have different forces. BSF is one force, SSB is another force, ITBP is third force, Assam Rifles is fourth force, which is looking after the border adjoining to Myanmar and Other States. So, I do not think that it is a good suggestion that all the forces should be brought under one command because they are dealing with different kinds of situations prevailing in those areas and it will be more useful to continue to command these forces in the manner in which they are commanded now.
Sir, one of the questions which was asked and a very pertinent question was whether the task which was performed by the SSB in the past will be continued to be performed by them. This is a very valid question. As a matter of fact, all the members of SSB were not putting uniforms and were not discharging the duties which are discharged by other forces in uniform. One other thing they were doing was to motivate the people living in those areas and help them. They were doing civil action duties. They were helping the people, motivating the people. This task will be continued to be done by SSB. The other was that in the process they were getting some information. Now, we expect our forces to get the information which will help them to discharge their duties in a proper manner. This task will also be continued to be done by them.
We are raising a few more battalions. About 21 battalions are going to be added to SSB. That is going to be an extra strength available to the SSB and they would be in a position to continue their duties as they used to do it. As a matter of fact, we would expect other forces also to continue some of the duties which these forces are doing. To some extent, they are also asked to help the civilian people living in the area where they are working in many ways so that they get the cooperation of the people living in that area.
Sir, I do not have to say anything more than this. If there are any deficiencies found in the working of this force, our endeavour would be to see that those deficiencies are removed and there is an improvement also.
I would once again like to thank the hon. Members for supporting this Bill and for giving very good suggestions.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The question is: "That the Bill to provide for the constitution and regulation of an armed force of the Union for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith, as passed by Rajya Sabha, be taken into consideration."
The motion was adopted[r40].
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The House will now take up clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill.
The question is: "That clauses 2 to 156 stand part of the Bill."
The motion was adopted.
Clauses 2 to 156 were added to the Bill.
Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Long Title were added to the Bill.
SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL: I beg to move: "That the Bill be passed."
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The question is: "That the Bill be passed."
The motion was adopted.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned to meet on Monday, 3rd December 2007, at 11 a.m.
14.42 hrs.
The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Eleven of the Clock
on Monday, December 3, 2007/Agrahayana 12, 1929 (Saka).
[R1](fD. BY c1)
[s2]TO LEAVE 3 PAGES FOR STATEMENT
Cd by e1 [h3] fd by g1 [r4]
Ctd. By h1 [m5]
Cont [p6]by j1.h
[r7]Fld.. by l1
Fd. by n [R8]
[r9] Cd by O
[R10]cd by p1.h
Cd by r1 [r11]
(fd. By s1) [b12] Ctd by t
[r13]
[MSOffice14]Contd. By U1 cd. by w1.e [a15]
[R16]Cd by x1
Cotd by y1 [MSOffice17]
[R18](Cd. by z1)
[r19]tapir ctd
[r20]ctd by a2 cd. by b2 [r21] cd. by d2.h [R22]
Sh. shailendra kumar cd. [R23] cd. by e2 [R24]
[k25]contd by f2 contd by G2 [s26]
[r27]Shri B. Mahtab cd.. cd.. by h2 [r28] cd by j2 [KMR29]
(cd. by k2) [b30] Ctd by l2
[r31] cd. by 'm2' [R32] cd. [R33] by n2
Contd. By o2.e [R34]
[MSOffice35]cd. by p2
Cont by r2.h [p36] Cd by s2
[N37]
[R38](Cd. by u2)
[r39]patil ctd
[r40]fld by w2